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Spam Proof Email Display

Discussion in 'PHP' started by hightide13, Nov 17, 2004.

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  1. #1
    I am working on a MySQL database of industry professionals where they can upload their own info including an email address. I have already started the DB and have a good number of records.

    When I display their information on a PHP page is there an effective way of displaying their email address so that it is spam/harvest bot proof?
     
    hightide13, Nov 17, 2004 IP
  2. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #2
    sarahk, Nov 17, 2004 IP
  3. piniyini

    piniyini Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Actually I read somewhere that bots can read this kind of thing - I thinks its called hex.

    The best way that I know of making it spam proof is to split the email address using the @ sign and replacing it with an image of the same font. Looks fine and is spam proof.

    I've used it over at www.imgs.biz/guestbook

    C ya
     
    piniyini, Nov 17, 2004 IP
  4. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #4
    Bots can, but don't

    The problem with the images is that they aren't human friendly. They also will consume GD resourses to display in a (dynamic) directory situation.

    I'm not sure what you mean by splitting the email address, I'm assuming you mean use Javascript. That's ok for some sites but be aware if you have users who may turn javascript off.

    Sarah
     
    sarahk, Nov 17, 2004 IP
  5. john_loch

    john_loch Rodent Slayer

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    #5
    I like what you're doing Piniyini. And it works nicely. Simply changing the @ symbol to a static image is a great way to go. No (abstracted) overhead at all.

    sarahk, sorry for the bad news, but I'm aware of situations where bots work with html entities (ie '&#64&#59;' is still a giveaway no matter how the botcache is parsed) :(

    Cheers,

    JL
     
    john_loch, Nov 17, 2004 IP
  6. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #6
    Fair enough John, but I can't click on that email address so the user is still getting a "reduced user experience"

    What we need is to find the compromise between
    * user expectations (ie I click, I get an email)
    * spam protection
    * programmability

    Sarah
     
    sarahk, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  7. john_loch

    john_loch Rodent Slayer

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    #7
    I hadn't realized it needed to be clickable.. which of course complicates things a tad :)
     
    john_loch, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  8. piniyini

    piniyini Well-Known Member

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    #8
    I dont know about you guys but I hate displaying clickable mail links, even if it is a "reduced user experience".

    If a user wants to mail someone they'll do so - they know the email address dont they?

    Enough 'frettin' ;) - do as you wish
     
    piniyini, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  9. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    T0PS3O, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  10. Trance-formation

    Trance-formation Peon

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    #10
    A couple of alternatives spring to mind... split the address as suggested (server side with php), but turn into into a link that takes the user to a formmail script with the email address inserted.
     
    Trance-formation, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  11. TwisterMc

    TwisterMc Mac Guru

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    #11
    Here are my two ideas.
    1) flash buttons for email address work great
    2) run a script on click that calls email.php?id=5 which would then translate into an email which would spawn an email window.
     
    TwisterMc, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  12. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    T0PS3O, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  13. TwisterMc

    TwisterMc Mac Guru

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    TwisterMc, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  14. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    sarahk, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  15. expat

    expat Stranger from a far land

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    #15
    lots of clients and sites need / want an e-mail address visible I use spam assasin (agressive) on the servers for the visible but not clickable address and a php form that has no e-mail visible and fixed subject lines.

    Client rules marked as sp = junk
    recognised subject line priority folder

    I also have great fun in running poison cgi scripts on some of my sites ....
    M
     
    expat, Nov 18, 2004 IP
  16. RobinAnn

    RobinAnn Peon

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    #16
    Hi. Since this is my first post, I will intoduce myself.

    My name is Robin Ann Peters and I am a Webmaster and Photographer near Boston, MA USA.

    I'd like to visit Digital Point again and hope everyone enjoys my link. It is relevant to this thread.

    www.stopspam-smelltheroses.com

    bye for now

    Robin Ann :p
     
    RobinAnn, Dec 1, 2004 IP
  17. johncr

    johncr Peon

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    #17
    Search this one: "Email Address Encryptor" (include quotes)
     
    johncr, Dec 3, 2004 IP
  18. Trance-formation

    Trance-formation Peon

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    #18
    I am now working on a set up that does exactly that, using PHP image functions to display the email as a graphic, passing the customers ID (not the email) as a query string and opening up an email form. If it is of any help, I'll send you the code when I'm done.
     
    Trance-formation, Dec 6, 2004 IP